Chapter 3

Linda stepped over. "Jane, I'm so glad you could make it on such short notice. You don't know how much of a bind we'd be in otherwise. This was to be our first workout without the cast and most of the cardiac limitations have been lifted."

Jane smiled. "I'm glad to be of help," she said graciously. "In fact, the timing is perfect for me as well." She paused and glanced over at Scully. "I guess you know that I've just gotten back into town."

Linda took a seat next to Scully, who had remained reclined on the couch and indicated that Jane should also sit down. "Actually," Linda admitted, "all I told Dana was that you and your boyfriend had broken up - which is all I really know anyway."

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Scully interjected quickly, as Jane perched on the edge of the nearest chair.

"It's okay," Jane said gratefully. "There's not much to it, but I assume that we'll be working pretty closely together." She shot a quick inquiring glance at Scully, who nodded, "so you might as well know." She took a breath before continuing, gathering her thoughts, and gaining more confidence at Linda and Scully's obvious sympathy. "Well, as I said, there's really not much to tell. What it boils down to really, is that I never got over my first love. And it wasn't Steven."

"And Steven knew it." Scully stated, not unkindly.

"Oh yeah," Jane acknowledged ruefully. "Three strikes and I was out the door. Literally."

Linda went over to Jane and put a consoling arm around her shoulders. "Well, hang in there, girl. If it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be."

"That's right," Scully added. "And who knows - maybe it's a sign. Maybe now the path is clear for your first love. Do you know where he is?"

Jane's eyes glazed over. "I - uh - tried to get over him. I really did." She stared out the window. "I used to know where he was, what he did, who he was with, but over the past six years I actually managed to get on with my life. Not that Steven saw it that way." She hesitated before going on. "Well, I did get a small update a couple of years ago, but I was with Steven at the time." She snapped back to the present with a little jerk. "You two must think that I'm a real nut case." She shook her head and brushed away two tears with a disparaging laugh.

"We think no such thing," Scully stated firmly. "First loves can be extremely powerful, with a magic all their own and we should never underestimate them."

Jane grinned. "Thanks. Look - enough about me. You're not going to be paying me to discuss my love life - or lack thereof. So why don't we get down to business."

"Yeah," Linda said, reluctantly rising. "I've got to leave soon. Brad's going to need help with the packing."